Band-cutter and feeder for threshing-machines and separators.



No. 63|,934. Patented Aug. 29, |899.

A. JOHNSON.

BAND CUTTER AND FEEDER FOR THRESHING MACHINES AND SEPARATDRS.

(Applicato filed June 22, 1898.)

@Ms .Affmy-S,

Patented Aug. 29, |899.

` l A. JoHNsoN. BAND CUTTER AND FEEDER FDR THRESHING MACHINES AND SEPARATURS.

(Application filed June 22, 1898.1

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Patented Aug. 29, 1899.

A. JOHNSDN. BAND CUTTER AND FEEDER FOR THRESHING MACHINES AND SEPARATORS.

(Application filed June 22, 1898.|

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ilNrrEn STATES PATENT y EEicE.

AUGUSTUS JOHNSON, VQF FALUN, KANSAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 631,934, dated August 29, 1899.

Application tied June' 2z, 1898.

ism from either side thereof, and said grainv is fed or carried alternately from the side hoppers and delivered into a centrally-dis posed conveyer.

A further object of the invention is to provide means by which the grain is packed previous to its delivery to the band-knives and is subsequently separated or loosened by positively-acting devices which operate in unison with the elevator mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide a vibratory mechanism for transferring the grain from the elevator to the threshingcylinder and for loosening the grain, so as to deliver it in proper condition for action by .the cylinder and the separator, and this transfer mechanism iS supported and operated by means which permit the transfer devices to be dropped out of the way when it is desired to obtain access to the threshing-cylinder for making repairs thereto.

My improved band-cutter and feeder has the following elements, combined and organized for service-to wit, an endless elevator, a feed-frame arranged transversely across the receivingend of the elevator and provided on opposite sides of the latter with hoppers into which the grain may be pitched or dumped, pusher devices acting alternately within the feederframeand the hoppers thereof to move the grain from each hopper to the elevator, f

rotary beaters situated on opposite sides of the conveyer or elevator, packer devices which overhang thepath of the grain and are situated between the beater-shafts and the hoppers, and vibrating frames carrying a series of baud-knives and situated between the packer Vdevices and the rotary beaters.

My invention also contemplates the prof Serial No. 684,171. (No model.)

vision of an endless elevator, an inclined transfer mechanism situated between the delivery end of the elevator and the throat of the separator and constructed in sections which are loosely hung at their lower ends, a crank-shaft operatively. connected with both sections of the transfer mechanism and serving to actuate thelatter in opposite directions simultaneously, and a rotary separator or beater arranged over, the transfer mechanism to act on the grain and loosen the Same as it passes to the feed-throat which leads to the threshing-cylinder.

The invention further consists in the novel combination of elements and in the construction and arrangement of parts whichwill be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

To enable others to understand the invention, I have illustrated a preferred embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawings,

forming a part of this specification, and in e which*- Figure l is a plan view of my improved band-cutter and feeder in operative relation to a grain-separator or threshing-machine, a part only of the latter being illustrated. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional elevation taken longitudinally through the improved bandcutter and feeder and a portion of the separator on the plane indicated by the dotted line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail plan view of the endless elevator. Fig. 4: is an enlarged plan view of the feederframe, illustrating the operating mechanisms tted thereto. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional elevation taken longitudinally through the feeder-frame on a plane at right angles to the axis of the elevator mechanism, the pusherhead below the right-hand hopper being shown as forced to the outer wall of the hopper and with the cut-off partly broken away and indicated by the dotted line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation taken through the feeder mechanism at right angles to the plane of section in Fig. 5 and on the plane indicated by the dotted line 6 6 of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of one of the vibrating frames which carry the band-knives and Fig. 8 is a detail perspective View of one of the pusher devices for moving the grain from one hopper part way across the feeder-frame, beneath the packer and feeder mechanisms therein, and to deliver the grain to the receiving end of the endless elevator.

Like numerals of reference denote like and corresponding parts in each of the several figures of the drawings.

In order that others skilled in the art may understand my improvements, I have illustrated the same by Figs. 1 and 2 in operative relation to a part of an ordinary grainseparator or threshing-machine l. As is usual in the art, the machine 1 is constructed with a feed mouth or throat 2, and from the front end of said machine is extended the horizontal arms 3, which are rigidlyT secured to the machine-casing and are arranged on opposite sides thereof. These arms are arranged in the same horizontal plane, and they provide the means for attachment of the inclined frame forming a part of the elevator mechanism and also serve to support the transfer mechanism which is situated between the deg livery end of the elevator mechanism and the mouth or throat 2 of the machine. The shaft of the rotary cylinder forming one of the operative elements of the separator is indicated by the numeral 4f,v and 'from a pulley on this shaft runs a driving-belt that serves to rotate the main driving-shaft of the band-cutter and feeder mechanism which constitutes the present invention and the subject-matter i of thisl application.

One of the elements of the band-cutter and A feeder mechanism is an endless elevator which serves to carry the grain from a transverselyarranged feeder-frame to the transfer mechanism by which the grain is delivered tothe machine throat or mouth, and this endless elevator is supported by a vertically-inclined V This frame consists of suitable lonframe 5. gitudinal rails united together by transverse rails, and the upper end of the elevator-frame is attached or secured in any suitable Way to g the arms 3 of the separator-casing, while the lower `end of the elevator-frame is suitably supported above the ground by the rests or supports 6 of any suitable character. The

elevator-frame is strengthened by the ern--v ployment of tie-bolts 7, which extend transversely across from side to side of the frame and are secured to the longitudinal rails thereof, and diagonal braces 8 are also employed for attachlnent to the lower part of the in-` To the upper end of the inclined elevatorframeis rigidly secured the shaf t-bearin gs 12,

and in these bearings is journaled a horizontal Idrivin g-shaft 11, which is firmly supported in place by the bearings and frame, so as to lie parallel to the line of the cylinder-shaft 4E. This main driving-shaft carries the drivinglnaled a similar shaft 17.

roller 13, which is arranged parallel to the rollers 9 and l0 and is situated at the upper delivery end of the inclined elevator 14. The elevator is shown as consisting of an endless web of suitable material provided on its Working faces with a series of transverse slats or bars, and this elevator web or apron extends the full Width and length of the inclined frame 5, the lower end of said apron being in operative relation tothe feeder-frame to receive the grain therefrom, While its upper end delivers to the transfer mechanism.

The main driving-shaft ll is belted to the cylinder-shaft 4, so that the elevator is positively driven by connections With the primary machine, and this shaft ll is geared through inclined longitudinal shafts to the rotary beater mechanisms supported on the feederframe, from which beater mechanisms ext-end devices by which the pusher mechanisms and the packers are actuated, whereby the shaft 11 imparts motion to all of the Working devices of the improved band-cutter and feeder.

On opposite sides of the inclined elevator 5 are secured the pairs of brackets 15, one pair of brackets being on one side of the elevator-frame and the other pair of brackets on the opposite side of the frame. In one pair of brackets is journaled the longitudinal shaft 1G, and in the other pair of brackets is jour- Both of these shafts are disposed outside of the elevator-frame, so as to be out of the path of the endless apron, and these shafts extend longitudinally of the elevator-frame, parallel therewith, so as to have' their 'lower ends terminate below the transverse feeder-frame for the purpose of operatively connecting said shafts with the transverse beater-shafts within said feederframe. The upper ends of the vertically-inclined counter-shafts 16 17 terminate adjacent to the main driving-shaft 11, and said shafts 16 and 17 aredriven from the shaft 11 through the intermeshing gears 1S and 18a, which are secured, respectively, to the driving andcounter shafts. vOne end of the driving-shaft 11 is extended beyond thel frame 5 and to it is secured the belt-pulley 19, around which passes the driving-belt 20, that is tted to a pulley 2Oa on the cylinder-shaft 4.

Between the upper delivery end of the inclined elevator and the mouth or throat 2 of the machine-casing is arranged a verticallyinclined transfer mechanism 21,which is positively driven to move the grain from the elevator into the separator and is constructed so that it may be moved out of position for the operator to obtain access to the threshing-cylinder when it is desired to repair the latter. This transfer mechanism consists of a bottom or floor, which is divided centrally Yand longitudinally into two independent sections 22 23, which are movable in. opposite directions simultaneously in order to impart a shaking motion to the grain and insure the proper feed thereof into the machine mouth or throat. These movable sect-ions of the IOO transfer mechanism are provided on their upper faces with the longitudinal serrated bars 24, which are properly secured to the sections and are spaced at suitableintervals thereon, and the lower ends of these serrated bars are extended beyond the iioors or bottoms of the sections, so as to deliver the grain upon a stationary horizontal board 25, which is suitably secured to the casing ofthe primary may chine, whereby the grain may be delivered from the transfer mechanism to Vthe primary machine without appreciable loss.

The independently-movable sections of the transfer mechanisms are supportedat their upper ends and are actuated from a shaft 26, which is jonrnaled in suitable bearings 26, on the arms 3 of the separator or the inclined elevator-frame 5, and this shaft is bent to form the cranks 28 and 29, the crank 29 lying vat right angles to the crank 28. i The section l 22 of the transfer mechanism is provided at or lnear its upper end with a shaft-bearing 27, that receives the crank 28 of the shaft 26,

while the other sect-ion 23 of said transferv `mechanism is provided with similar bearings 27, that receive the crank 29 of the shaft, 26,

whereby the two sections of the transfer mechanism are properly supported by the shaft 26 and the oppositely-disposed cranks serve to impart reciprocating or vibrating motion in opposite directions simultaneously to the independent transfer-sections 22 n3. Thelower ends of these transfer-sections are movably supported in proper position over the grainboard by means of the swinging links 30, which aresuitably connected to the sections 22 23 and are loosely fitted upon a common idler-shaft 3l, that is supported on the frame of the primary machine. These links 30 ele vate the lower ends of the inclined transverse sections above the grain-board, so as to permit the protruding ends of the serrated bars to move or play freely over said grain-board,

and in order to permitthe sections of thel transfer mechanism to be adjusted out of the way of the operator when it is desired to gain access to the threshing-cylinder I preferto detachably connect, as at 32, the upper ends 5 of the links 30 to said sections 22 and 23. ItE will be evident that the links may be discon-f nected from the sections 22 and 23, or onlyv the series of links for one section maybe disconnected, after which the section or sections may swing downwardly on the connection of' its upper end with the crank-shaft, thus per- Amouth 2.

.vide a rotary beater which is operatively arranged relatively to the transfer mechanism, so as to act on the grain as it is carried by the said transfer mechanism to the feed throat or This rotary beater consists of a shaft 36, which is journaled in suitable bearings 36, secured to the arms 3 of the primary machine, and this beater-shaft is sustained in an elevated posit-ion above the transfer mechanism, so that its blades will act on the To onegrain to separate or loosen the same. end of the rotary beater-shaft 36 is secured a pulley 37 which is driven by a belt 37a from a pulley on the main driving-shaft l1. This rotary shaft 36 carries a series of heads or disks 33, which are secured at proper inter vals on the shaft, and tothe heads or disks 38 are fastened the series of radial blades or beaters 39, each blade being preferably curved to facilitate its withdrawal from the grain on the rotation of the shaft.

The rotary beater, which is arranged above the transfer mechanism, is designed to be driven at a slower speed than that of the transfer mechanism, and this end is attained by proportioning the gearing which connects the beater-shaft with the driving-shaft and the crank-shaft 26 with said driving-shaft. As shown by Fig. l, the pulleys for the beater mechanism are of uniform diameter and they are secured on the drivingshaft and the beater-shaft in line with each other, so as to be vconnected by the endless belt 37%. The pulleys for driving the crank-shaft of the transfer mechanism are of different diameters, however, the large pulley 34 being secured to the driving-shaft and the small pulley 33 attached to the crank-shaft 26, in alinement with each other, so as to be connected by the endless belt 34. The small pulley on the crank-shaft is driven at a higher speed than the large pulley 34 on the driving-shaft, and the belt-gearing for the transfer kmechanism is thus adapted to operate said mechanism at a faster speed than the rotation of the beater.

40 designates the feederframe,which is arranged transversely across the line of travel of the endless elevator and at the lower receiving end thereof, and this transverse feeder-frame is equipped with hoppers into which the grain may be pitched or dumped,

with pusher devices which are actuated alten nately to move the grain positively from one hopper orv the other hopper to the elevator mechanism, with packer devices by which the grain is depressed previous to the action of the band-knives thereon, and with beater devices for separating or loosening the grain before it is delivered to the elevator mechanism. This transverse feeder-frame is constructed with the middle uprights 41, the end uprights 42, the horizontal longitudinal sills 43, which join the middle and end uprights firmly together, the door 44, andthe side 'and ICO IIO

end walls 45, which form 'an inclosing casing4 around the feeder-frame. The floor 44 does not extend across the space between the mid- -dle uprights 41, but it is in two sections, which i are 'arranged on opposite sides of the elevatori ranged to have the two side compartments able way. As shown by Fig. 8, 'each pusher- 'empty into the elevator at its receiving end. 46 47 designate the primary receiving-hoppers, which are arranged on opposite sides of the elevator-'frame and are rigidly secu-red to i the respective ends of the feeder-frame, and 5 these hoppers are arranged to discharge thei-r contents upon` the bottoms or -Iloors of the@` compartments in said feeder-frame. 'These -hoppers are supported on the 'feeder-frame Iin elevated positions above the floors thereof, and beneath the hoppers are arranged the i reciprocating pushers 48 and 49, the pusher, 4S being bperatively fitted beneath the hopi per 46 and the pusher 49 lying below the hopper 47. The -pnshers are actuated simulta neously in the same direction beneath the hoppers and within the Acompartments of the lfeeder-frame, and as one pusher is receding; the other pusher advances, so 'that 4the pushers move the `grain alternatelyffromone hopper and then the other hopper to the cen-5 trally disposed endless elevator. Each pusher-extends across the bottom of the hop- `per and th-e com partmentfof the feeder-frame in which the pusher operates, and it consists Vof a vertical head 50 and a horizon-tal cu-t-off'; 51., larranged `at right angles 'to the pusher-E head aud rigidly united thereto in -any suithe'ad and cut-off lconsists of two mem-bers arranged at right angles to each other. Theg pusher-'head may be made lfrom-a board yory plate which occupi-es a horizontal position transversely across the feeder-frame, and` this board or plate constituting the pusher- -head -is arranged to present its edge 4to the bottom of 'the feeder-frame. vThe cut-off 5l p also consists of a board or plate arranged at right angles tothe pusher-head and ina 'horizontal plane above vthe upper edge of'sai'd; pusher-head, vso that the cut-od lies in a poisition at right angles to the vertical plane of f the pusher-head. The pusher-head and the cut-od are vunited 'rmly together, and they are actuated by the driving'connections with the beater-shaft. The pusher-head and cut-1j off rextend transversely across the beaten; `frame to reciprocate in a rectilinear path when actuated by the driving connections, Aand this horizontal cut-off is arranged toclose g the bottom of the hopper when the pusher is, moved inwardly toward a centrally-disposed Q elevator, whereby the cut-olf supports the weight of the contents of the hopper. Theg pusher-head operates close to the bottom 'of 'thecompartment for-ming a part of the feederframe and the cut-off 61 travels close to the lower edges of the hopper, so vthat when the' pusher is drawn inward to advance the grain into the compartment of the feeder-frame the 4cut-off closes the bottom of the hopper and prevents the further ingress yot ygrain into the feeder-frame on the inward movement of the pusher. The pushers are lactuated simultaneously to travel in the 'same direction; but the driving devices 4for said pushers 'are arranged to move one pusher inward-ly and at the Vsaine time move the other pusher 4ontwardly, and thus the t-wo pushers are operated to move the grain alternately from the hoppers into the ycompartments of the feederframe. Each p-usheris furthermore provided 'with a horizontal draw-'bar 53, the -ends of which protrude beyond the pusher-head 50, upon or to which the draw-bar is uni-ted, and to the protruding'ends Aof the draw-bar are secured the carrying rods or bars 54, which extend len gthwise-of the `compartment of the 'feeder-frame in which the pusher operates. These carrying-bars serve to sustain the pusher in proper operative posi-tion on or above the floor of the feeder-frame, andthe carrying-bars are slidablysupportedatopposite sides of 'the feeder-frameby means of the guides or brackets 55a. These brackets .are vsecured rigidly -in pai-rs tothe feeder-iframe and they sustain the grooved rollers which lare 'loosely journaled lin 'th-e brackets andare properly spaced apart to accommodate the lcarrying-bars between said rollers. Ipreferably employ a .pair of the-carrying-barawhich fare arranged at 'the ends of each pusher and are suitably-secured to the draw-bar thereof, `and each carrying-bar V54 is supported in two `or more of the brackets or guides 55, the pairs of rollers in which guides Vare vin alinement with each other for properly1 receiving the carrying-bar. It will thus be seen that Vthe carrying-bars are mounted 'to travel freely 'in the roller-'supporting brackets, and the @pusher-head -is thlu's caused to move easily beneath the hopper.

It will be understood thateach pusher 'tra-vels a certain length in the @transverse frame, according to Vthe throwo'f the crank, and -this movement is sufficient on the inward travel -of the pusher to cause 'the cut-off plate 49 to close the bottom of the hopper against the continued lfeed vof the grain. vThe outer edge ofthe 'cut-od is beyond the outer wall of the hopper, as shown by Fig. 5,`when the pusherhead is at the limit Yof vits linward travel in orfder to prevent the grain from passingn rear ot' the pusher-head andfrom being forced out Aofthe 'frame 'on the outward stroke of the pusher. -In the operation of transferring the `grain from the hopper'to the beater and kni-fe mechanism twoor more strokes-or movements of the pusher may be necessary to feed the proper quantity ofgrain to the beater, and this end is attained by the pusher moving IOO IIO

one quantity or charge of grain a certain distance, then on the next stroke of the pusher V it feeds another charge of grain, which advances the first charge of grain a proper dis-v tance to be reached by the beater, and the operation is continued. The described operation is carried out by the pusher and cut-off at each end of the transverse frame.

55 56 designate the beater-shafts, which are arranged transversely across the feederframe and on opposite sides of the conveyerframe 5. These beater-shafts are journaled in bearings 57, secured rigidly to the upper edges of the feeder-frame, so that the shafts lie above the path of travel of the grain as it is advanced through the feeder-frame by the pushers,and these shafts are positively driven by power connections with the longitudinal inclined shafts 16 17, supported on the sides of the elevator-frame. The inner ends of the beater-shafts 55 56, which overhang the elevator-frame, are provided withthe sprocketwheels 59, around' which pass the endless sprocket-chains 60, that are driven by the sprocket-pinions 61, secured rigidly on the lower ends of the inclined shafts 16 17. It will thus be seen that the power-shaft` 1l drives the beater-shafts through the longitudinal inclined counter-shafts 1617, theintermeshing bevel-gears 1'8 18, and the sprocketgearing 59, 60, and 61, and each beater-shaft is driven independently of the other beatershaft through thecounter-shaft and the gearing associated with said counter-shaft, driving-shaft, and beatershaft. The beater shafts each carry a series of heads or disks 62, which are secured rigidly and at suitable intervals to said shaft, and these disks or heads extend in series across the upper part of the feeder-frame. To each head or disk on the beater-shaft is secured a series of blades or arms 63, which extend outwardly from the disk on curved lines, and as a series of disks or heads is provided onY each shaft the beater is equipped with a large number of the blades or arms for action on the grain to loosen the same as it passes through the feeder-frame and before it is delivered to the endless elevator.

The pusher for each side of the feeder-frame is operatively connected with the beater on the same side of the frame, and this driving connection from thefbeater to the pusher associated therewith iseffected by the employment of cranks 64 or 65 on the beater-shaft, the wrist-pins 66 on saidcranks, and the pitmen 67, loosely connected to the wrist-pins and to the draw-ba`r of the pusher-head. As the beater-shaft is rotated by its driving connection with one of the longitudinal inclined counter-shafts the cranks on said beatershaftrotate therewith to cause the wrist-pins to describe a circle of rotation, and these wrist-pins actuate the pitmen 67 to reciprocate the pusher. The cranks 64 on the beater-shaft 55 extend therefrom opposite tothe cranks 65 on the beater-shaft 56, and

' as the two pushers are operatively connected by the pitmen with the cranks on said shafts the pushers are actuated to properly advance the grain from the hoppers alternately into the feeder-frame.

As the grain is moved from each hopper into one compartment of the feeder-frame by the pusher the grain is packed or depressed by a vibrating packer mechanism. Two of these packer devices 68 and 69 are provided for the compartments of the feeder-frame, and each packer device is adjacent to t-he hopper and above the path of the pusher. Each packer consists of a shaft 70, which is arranged transversely across the beater-frame and is journaled in suitable bearings 7l thereon, and to the shaft 70 is secured a series of quadrant-shaped arms 72, which are arranged at proper intervals along the length of the shaft. The ends of the rocking packer-shaft are provided with the cranks 73, to which are pivoted the pitmen 74, arranged at the sides of the feeder-frame and extended to the wristpins 66 on the cranks of the beater-shafts. The beater-shafts are operatively connected through their cranks and the pitmen 67 and 74 with the pushers and the packer-shafts, so that the beater-shafts operate the devices in the feeder-frame by which the grain is advanced and depressed therein.

. If desired, the cranks 64 and 65 on the beater-shafts may be provided with independent wrist-pins for the pitmen of the pushers and packer devices; but this arrangement is optional.

76 77 designate vibrating sickle-carrying frames, which are arranged between the packer devices and the rotary beaters, and each sickle-carrying frame is supported above the path of the grain and is adapted to be depressed positively by the arms or blades 63 of the rotary beaters impinging against said frames. Each vibrating frame is preferably in the form of a bail having its arms arranged parallel to the sides of the feeder-frame and with its cross-bar transversely across the feeder-frame, so as to lie in the path of the beater-arms 63 on the rotary shaft of the beater, and said arms of the bail-shaped frame are pivotally supported, as at 78, on Ithe hopper ora part of thefeeder-frame. Normally the vibrating frame is sustained in a raised position by the action of lifting-springs 79, suitably connected with the feeder-frame and said vibrating frame, and below the vibrating frame is a horizontal sickle-bar SO. This sickle-bar carries a series of band-cutting knives Sl, adapted to be forced into the grain at suitable intervals by the action of the beater-arms on the cross-bar at the free end of the vibrating frame, and this sickle-bar is rigidly secured t0 the vibrating frame by the vertical arms 82, which are rigidly secured to the ends of the sickle-bar and to the side bars of the vibrating frame at points between the free and pivoted ends thereof.

The operation may be described as follows:

IOO

ITO

The driving-shaft ll is rotated by the belt connections with the cylinder-shaft 4, and it propels the longitudinal inclined countershafts, which in turn rotate the beater-shafts. These beater-shafts actuate the pushers and the vibratie g packer devices, and as the arms or blades on the beater-shafts rotate therewith the vibrating band-knife frames'are depressed at suitable intervals into the grain for the purpose of cutting the bands Which bind the sh ocks of grain. The grain is pitched or dumped into the hoppers at either side of the feeder-frame, and it is forced from each hopper on the reciprocating movement of the pusher, which on its inward movement closes the bottom of the hopper against the passage of grain, thus obviating any tendencyT of the hopper to become clogged or choked on the outwardinovement of the pusher. As the grain is forced from the hopper the packershaft is rocked, so as to bring its arms upon the grain and depress or pack the latter for the grain to properly pass beneath the vibrating sickle carryingr frame, the bandknives of which sever the bands, so as to place the grain in a condition to be loosened or separated by the blades or arms of the rotary beater, Which is driven in a direction to assist the pusher in advancing the grain. The beater-shafts are driven in opposite directions and the pushers act alternately, so as to feed the grain from opposite sides of the feederframe continuously to the centrally-disposed elevator, which is driven positively by the roller on the driving-shaft l1, and this elevator carries the grain in an upward and rearward direction from the feeder-frame to the transfer mechanism 21. The sections 22 23 of this transfer mechanism are actuated posiand said sectional transfer mechanism is driven at a relatively-higher speed than the rotary beater 36 above the vibratin g transfer mechanism. 4 This beater and the sectional transfer mechanism are actuated from the driving-shaft ll through the described gear connections, and the grain is thus fed and loosened in its travel from the elevator to the mouth or throat of the separator or threshingmachine.

Changes may be made in the form of some of the parts, While their essential features are retained and the spirit of the invention emboded.- Hence I do not desire to be limited to the precise form of all the parts as shown, reserving the right to vary therefrom.

To prevent the rotary beaters on the feederframe from lifting the grain as it passes from the feeder-frame to the elevator, I 'provide the guard bars or rails 83, which are arranged in series overy the open space in the center of the bottom of the feeder-frame. These guard rails or bars are preferably curved, as shown by the drawings, and they are fastened at their ends to the feeder-frame. v rails'are in alternate relation to the blades or beaters on the rotary shafts, and said blades The guardare thus adapted to sweepin the intervals between said rails, so that the latter Will serve to detain or arrest the grain from any tendency to move upwardly With the blades or arms, and thus overcome wrapping of the grain around the beater-shafts.

In order to maintain the endless apron of the elevatorin a taut condition and secure a maximum efficiency of operation, the lower idler-roll may be supported in the elevatorframe by slidable boxes, which may be controlled by a suitable tension device, as shown by Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim isl. In a band-cutter and feeder, the combination With a feeder-frame, and an elevator mechanism,of primary hoppers situated at op` posite ends of said feeder-f rame, pushers having cut-offs arranged to travel beneath the hoppers, and mechanism, for "reciprocating vpusher-heads, at the upper edges thereof, land fast with said pushers to reciprocate therewith, and means for actuating the pushers to travel beneath the hoppers and present the cut-offs in positions to close the bottoms `of said hoppers, substantially as described. tively by the cranks of the rotary shaft 26, l

3. In. a band-cutter and feeder, the combination with a feeder-frame, and a centrallyarranged elevator lying at right angles to said fframe, of hoppers at opposite ends of the.

nections from the beater de vices to the pushercarrying bars, substantially as described.

4, In a band-cutter and feeder,'the combination with a feeder-frame and an elevator mechanism, of the hoppers situated at opposite ends of the feeder-frame, beater devices on the feeder-frame between said hoppers and the points of discharge to the elevator 4mechanism, horizontal carrying-bars arranged longitudinally of the frame and between the hoppers and the beaters, means for slidably supporting the carrier-bars to guide the latter in a rectilinear path longitudinally of the feeder-frame, vertical pusher-heads ICO IIO

arranged transversely across the f ceder-f rame to travel beneath the hoppers and secu red to the carrying-bars for reciprocation therewith, and driving connections between the carrying-bars and the beaters, substantially as described.

5. In a band-cutter and feeder, the combination with an elevator and a feeder-frame arranged transversely across the elevator and provided at its ends with receiving-hoppers, of the pushers sldably fitted to' the frame to travel beneath the hoppers thereof and each provided with a cut-off adapted to close the bottom of the hopper on the inward movement of the pusher, and driving connections for reciprocating said pusher, substantially as described.

6. In a band-cutter and feeder, the combination with an elevator and a transverselyarranged feeder-f rame provided with receiving-hoppers at its ends, of the reciprocating pushers slidably fitted .to the feeder-frame to travel beneath the hoppers thereof, cut-offs connected to the pushers and arranged at right angles thereto to close the bottoms of the hoppers on the inward travel of the pushers carrying-bars attached to each pusher, supporting-brackets in which the carryingbars are slidably mounted, and driving connections for actuating the pushers, substantially as described. Y

7. In a band-cutter and feeder, the combination with an elevator and a feeder-frame provided with the receiving-hoppers, of the fixed brackets within the feeder-frame and supporting-rollers arranged in pairs, carrying-bars slidably fitted in the brackets and between the rollers therein, pushers having draw-bars to which the carrying-bars are fastened, rotarybeaters supported on the beaterframe, and driving connections between the beater-shafts and the pnshers, substantially as described.

8. In a band-cutter and feeder, the combination with an elevator and a transverse' feeder-frame provided with the receivinghoppers, of rotary beaters situated on opposite sides of the elevator, means for advancing the grain from the hoppers into the feederframe, vibrating frames pivotally supported between the rotary beaters and said hoppers and arranged in the path of the beater-blades to be actuated thereby, band-cuttin g devices carried by said vibrating frames and packer devices between the sickles and the hoppers, substantially as described.

9. In a band-cutter and feeder, the combination with a feeder-frame having the receiving-hoppers, of rotary beaters supported on said frame, pushers slidably fitted to travel beneath the hoppers, vibrating frames supported within the feeder-frame above the ypath of the grain as it traverses the feederframe from the hoppers to the rotary beaters,

vices situated adjacent to the hoppers to depress ihe grain as it is advanced by the pushers from the hoppers to the baud-cutting devices, substantially as described.

I0. In a band-cutter and feeder, the combination with a feeder-frame having receiving-hoppers, of rotary beaters supported on said fram e, pusher devices slidably fitted below the hoppers, vibrating frames pivotally supported within the feeder-frame and arranged in the pathof the beaters to be depressed positively thereby, band cutting knives carried by said vibrating frames, and devices connected with the vibrating frames for lifting the latter into the path of the beater blades, whereby the band cutting knives are reciprocated vertically, substantially as described.

ll. In a band-cutter and feeder, the combination with a feeder-frame provided with receiving-hoppers and rotary beaters supported on said frame, of band-cutting devices within the feeder-frame, rocking packer devices situated adjacent to the hoppers and above the path of feed of the grain as it travels from the hoppers to the band-cutting devices, and means for advancing the grain from the hoppers beneath the packer devices and the band-cutting mechanisms, substantially as described.

12. In a band-cutter and feeder, the conibination with a feederframe and rotary beaters supported thereon, of pusher devices linked to the rotary beaters to be reciprocated by its connections therewithpaeker devices supported above the path of the pushersand also having driving connections with the rotary beaters, vibrating frames supported within the feeder-frame above the path of the pushers and lying in the path of the rotary beaters to be actuated thereby, bandcutting knives carried by said vibrating frames, and means for returning the vibrating frames and band-cutting knives to normal positions for the purpose described, substantially as set forth.

13. In a band-cutter and feeder, the combination With a feeder-frame, hoppers supported thereon, and an-elevator, of rotary bea ters mounted on said frame contiguous to the elevator, packer devices mounted on the feeder-frame adjacent to the hoppers and each arranged to rockin a vertical plane within one of .said hoppers, pusher devices supported to travel below the hoppers and the packer devices, driving connections from the beaters to said packer devices, and other driving connections from the beaters to the pusher devices, each packer device being operated on the outward stroke of the pusher to force the grain contained in ahopper into the path of said pusher, substantially as described.

14:. In a band-cutter and feeder, the combination with a feeder-frame, hoppers thereon, and an elevator, of rotary beaters driven by said elevator, vibrating frames hung between the hoppers and beaters and arranged IOO IOS

IIO

in the path of the beater-arms to be depressed l a roeking'packer-shaft mounted adjacent' to 15 each hopper above the path of the pusher and havingpaoker-arms arranged to rook in the hopper, and drivingeonneotions from the beaters to the packer devices for depressing the packer-arms on the outward movement of 2o 'the pusher, substantially as described.' y

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence 0f two Witnesses.

AUGUSTUS JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

L. LAGERSTROM, S. M. CARLSON. 

